Anemia is Just One Thing that Causes Fatigue

One of the causes of fatigue is thought to be ironattempt to treat yourself with these minerals
deficiency, often referred to as anemia orwithout physician supervision. Antianemia drugs
borderline anemia. Most people assume that ifare also sometimes prescribed, but according to a
they are iron deficient they are anemic but it isNovember 10, 2009 article in U.S. News and World
not necessarily the case. There are actually threeReport, antianemia drugs may cause deadly blood
stages of deficiency, anemia being the last, andclots, according to a recent study, particularly for
any of the three stages of deficiency may causecancer patients. The most common treatment for
fatigue, but often it is not the iron deficiencyanemia, however, is simply adding safe amounts
which is the cause of fatigue. However being thatof iron to your diet. Eating foods high in iron is the
it is the most common nutrient deficiencysafest way to treat minor iron deficiencies. In
world-wide, people often believe it to be themany cases, treating an iron deficiency will almost
cause of fatigue and treat their fatigue withimmediately decrease anemia symptoms you
supplemental iron.experienced such as fatigue, dizziness, lack of
Symptoms of Anemiaconcentration and low vitality. If treatment of
Typical symptoms of anemia as well as the otheryour iron deficiency doesn’t appear to
two stages of iron deficiency are similar. Theyimprove your feelings of fatigue, lack of vitality
may include paleness, decreased tolerance to coldand trouble concentrating, you can combat fatigue
temperatures, low vitality or health andsymptoms and others with a number of simple
sometimes fatigue. Also people with irontreatments:
deficiency often report that they are unable toSleep: This might sound like a no-brainer. If
concentrate, learn and work. Extreme cases ofyou’re tired, then sleep. However, poor
anemia report symptoms such as sore tongue,sleeping patterns can be just as debilitating to
confusion and dementia. Iron is needed toyour daily routine as not sleeping at all. Make sure
transport oxygen in the body, and also plays ayou allow for eight full hours of uninterrupted
role in metabolism and immunity. Additionally, ironsleep every night, plus time to fall asleep and
deficiencies are more common in women than inwake up. Turn your bedroom into a dark, quiet
men.place. Consider breathing techniques or relaxation
Any of the Three Stages of Iron Deficiencymeditation before bed to help you fall asleep
Cause Fatiguefaster. Herbal teas sometimes help also, and are
As mentioned above, there are actually 3 stagesmore advisable with an iron deficient condition
of iron deficiency. The first stage of deficiency isthan alcohol or sleep aids.
the result of your ferritin being low. Ferritin is theExercise: Adding healthy activity to your daily
storage form of iron – the iron in your boneroutine will help to improve your sleep pattern in a
marrow. The second stage of deficiency is whenvariety of ways. Being unfit can reduce energy
your circulating iron is low. This is a result oflevels and add to feelings of depression. Exercise
further depletion of ferritin. One test your doctordoes not require an expensive gym membership
might do to check to see if you are in the secondor even a lot of time. Adding a 20 minute walk to
stage of deficiency is to check your transferrinyour daily activity and weekend bike rides is very
levels. Transferrin is a protein that carries iron inuseful in reducing the causes of fatigue because
the blood. If the transferring is high then it is aeven this small amount of physical activity helps
sign of iron deficiency because your body is tryingto release endorphins which is known to improve
to overcompensate by increasing the availablecognitive functioning and elevate mood states.
circulating iron. The third stage is when yourAvoid alcohol and drugs: Although you may find
ferritin is low and your hemoglobin is low also. Thiswhat seems like temporary relief to sleep
stage of iron deficiency is called anemia. Iron isproblems by drinking alcohol or using drugs, in the
used to transfer oxygen in the body and alsolong term these things will only heighten your
helps with keeping your metabolism normal andinsomnia and lead to worsened fatigue.
building immunity. Therefore, when iron is evenSupplements: Adding a supplement such as
slightly low, one symptom people may experienceProtandim to your daily routine, which triggers the
is fatigue. However, often times patients who arecreation of enzymes to eliminate free radical
treating anemia and iron deficiencies do not reportmolecules in your body is known to help eliminate
an improvement in fatigue. In the United Statesfatigue. Suppliments like this work because it
where most people have healthy diets, womendecreases oxidative stress, the main cause of
tend to be more vulnerable to anemia than menfree radicals in the body.
because of menstruation. (Blood loss is the mostIf you believe an iron deficiency may cause
common way people lose iron.)fatigue in you, you’re recommended to see a
Help for Anemia and Fatiguedoctor to rule out or prevent severe anemia.
Nutritional approaches for treatment of anemia orDoing your own research to find out how to
iron may include adding trace minerals such asreduce your fatigue may also be helpful to you,
copper, zinc and selenium. Since only very smallregardless of whether you’re treating your
doses of these minerals are safe, you should notiron deficiency separately or not.